Concerned about safety

[robt57]

Hi, I am new here and had a few questions regarding a visit to the area.
I am 50 years old, have a long history of sport bikes under my belt. I currently have a 82 Yamaha XV920RJ chain drive and a 03 Buell XB9S.

I raced Motocross and even a few years of racing Bicycles and many years on 2 wheeled vehicles overall. That all said I am confident about my skills on the bike. My concern is this: is this area, deals gap, so inundated with testosterone junkie sport bike/car drivers/rider it is unsafe.

Is there a 'BEST' time to go there and enjoy hours of the area on a MC lessening the chance of getting mowed down by a nut who can not control themself? Is my impression of the area exaggerated and il-founded?

Would appreciate any useful input. Thanks

[ky_airhog]

Go during mid week.... stay away from "Rally" weekends if you want to encounter lower levels of traffic, and remember... "Stay off the mustard and on the mayo".

[shipdadip]

Which week is usually the slowest? Granted any week during the summer is going to have riders but I'm sure there are weeks when there are no Rally's (at least huge ones) going on.

[PlayWithGravity]

I know the Honda Hoot meets in Knoxville June 19-24, close enough (I assume) to add traffic to the area roads. We diverted a trip from that time to July to try to avoid 10,000 too many bikes.

[Timmy!]

Click the 'events' link on the front page for a calendar of events. Maybe that'll help with your planning.
If weekends are your only option, most locals recommend early AM/late PM hours for the lightest traffic. Maybe enjoy some of the other local roads during peak times-there are plenty of 'em!
I've ridden the dragon and surrounding areas quite a few times (always on weekends) and (knocking wood) have never had a problem/close encounter. Just leave yourself plenty of room for margin and you'll have a great time!

[MotorSWATCop]

I make my runs on TUE & WED mostly. Very light traffic so you can make numerous clean runs. There are a few more trucks during the week so be careful of that. Weekends are the most crowded. They're fun for watching and meeting folks but the riding suffers.

[ky_airhog]

Check the calendar here for busy weekends.... www.dealsgap.com

[748L052]

robt57,

You'll be fine. 64 here, as many hours on saddle of Guerciotti as Ducati & still rollin'... You may actually want to bring a bicycle also - if you can still climb.

It's not the poor judgment mc riders but rather the recent tsunami of genuinely stupid cage drivers to worry about now. I'd say that exactly 2 percent of them even know what a late apex is - & ya can't possibly run the gap road sanely without that ability.

Just ride the defensive right side of your lane & assume that any meeting vehicle will be trying to use part of your lane. And when they don't, rejoice in seeing skill in action. And when they do try to forgive them, if possible, for they know not...

Early & late. Early if you are OK with cool damp pavement. My favorite. Cool damp sort of separates the men from those others - one way or another. My guess is that 85% percent of the parts on the tree were generated in cool damp conditions. Father physics rules - one to one relation to behavioral Darwinism.

[crs01]

I know what you mean Robt...seems like a lotta egos out there thinkin the gap is their private track and riders going slow (simply enjoying the ride) are in their way.

[brad@dealsgap]

sorry guys have been out of the loop this week. Best time is before 10 am and after 6 pm on weekends or weekdays. 95% of our traffic comes from out of the area so they are not here to early and usualy head out in time to get dinner. Also, the weekdays are the best, our slowest days are tues-thurs. Again if you get here early or stay later you will find a ton less traffic.

[cyclesico]

Go during mid week.... stay away from "Rally" weekends if you want to encounter lower levels of traffic, and remember... "Stay off the mustard and on the mayo".and keep the ketchup off your shirt" should be a road sign.

[robt57]

Thanks for all the input. I am actually considering renting a KLR-650 and leaving my bike at home. How are the non-paved offering and the riders on them in the area. I like the idea of a road bike [bicycle] also for the trip. Not ready to start climbing again, broke my leg at Gatlinburg skiing [falling] in slush pretty bad 2/06 and the knee ain't there yet.

I'd plan on a late arrival and a short ride before a night of hotel. then get out early the next day for the most part. Kind of a mirror of a trip to the blue ridge we made from and when I lived in NJ a few years back.

Thew the bikes [XV-920RJ & TMD-850] in the Sonoma and drove in relative comfort, got a hotel secured and went for a 1-2 hour jaunt before returning for some beers and Zs and a fresh start for the next day. Nice to ride rested IMO.

[shankdlwedge]

I am 37 and share many of your concerns. I actually ride with several guys that race or have track experience. But I think we are all somewhat apprehensive when riding the Dragon because of "the other guy". I made my first trip in 2002 and have been back several times since. The lore surrounding the Gap is justified and the ride is loads of fun if traffic is not heavy. The Dragon's is worthy of the high praise it receives. Although the Gap is the icing on the cake, the overall experience of riding in the surrounding area (Cherohala Skyway, 28 toward Franklin and Highlands, and northern GA toward TWO!) is the reason I will riding in from Dallas Texas the first weekend of May! Because that weekend will be the 5th Annual Mini Cooper rally, I will try to get through the Dragon on Wednesday or Thursday and avoid a much of the weekend chaos as possible!

Chris

[Sidney Z750S]

Same concerns here also. When I ride the Gap I plan to go through before noon on Friday. Last time there we were stopped taking photos and witnessed a novice lay it down and slide across the road right in front of us. Decided to get out of there before someone else crossed the road and took us out.

For what it's worth, the Gap is only 11 miles of what is easily a 700 mile weekend. Many nice curvy roads all around the Smokies and of course the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Have fun,

Sidney

[LBF]

I have visited the Gap area on three different occasions, and have made numerous back-to-back runs as well as several 100+ mile day trips through the surrounding area - on weekdays as well as weekends, and have never had a problem with anyone. Ride your own ride, and let the faster guy pass you by. I'm heading down in June for a several day stay and can't wait!

[brad@dealsgap]

Hey Gang, just a note on how this year is going as far as saftey is concerned. We had a ruff start in March as far as single bike accidents go that required medical care. However seems the season has realy leveled off and for the past 30 days or so we have not had an issue. So please keep it up gang, the best way to keep the local law enforcements off our backs is not having to call 911. If we can keep up this trend we will have the safest year in a long time.

[748L052]

Again, +++ to Brad...

The LEO folks want come up here only to hike, hunt, fish & perhaps ride, as we do - off duty. They do NOT like being up here to pick up bonehead litter.

And, if the poor-judgement bikes/cages cause a strain on the county EMT budget and/or their availability down off the mountain we WILL loose...

[brad@dealsgap]

Good news folks, we have made it day 1 of Rally weekend no 911 calls....yaaaaaaa and imagin this no LEO's as well. See easy.:)

[TitanicVol]

I am 37

Me too, shank!

Ride your own ride, and let the faster guy pass you by. I'm heading down in June for a several day stay and can't wait!

Ditto this plan, LBF.

I'm coming with my bro-in-law (Honda VTX 1800) and his wife (Honda Shadow Ace 750). I've been riding since I was five, he's been riding probably 6 or 7 years, and she's basically a beginner - maybe a year and a half.

I told her she might want to park her bike and ride double with him on the Dragon, but she says she wants to ride it herself - slowly of course. What would yall think?

[Bankshot]

Brad is right on when it comes to Tue-Thur traffic, especially early or late. I rode up to the Gap from Atlanta on this past Wednesday and arrived at 4pm. The traffic on the Dragon was very light. It was nice to ride the rode and be able to focus on the ride rather than the traffic!

Mid-week is highly recommended! :-)

[searay]

Took my son and daughter up last weekend. My daughter has only been ridding fo a year. She did great. Rode her on ride.

[TitanicVol]

Took my son and daughter up last weekend. My daughter has only been ridding fo a year. She did great. Rode her on ride.

Thanks, SeaRay. That makes me feel better about my Sister-in-Law.

[LBF]

Me too, shank!



Ditto this plan, LBF.

I'm coming with my bro-in-law (Honda VTX 1800) and his wife (Honda Shadow Ace 750). I've been riding since I was five, he's been riding probably 6 or 7 years, and she's basically a beginner - maybe a year and a half.

I told her she might want to park her bike and ride double with him on the Dragon, but she says she wants to ride it herself - slowly of course. What would yall think?

My Girlfriend rode the Dragon a few times on her Vulcan 800 last year and didn't have any problems. She wasn't the slowest person, let me tell you - but I am certainly not the fastest, either. The most important thing a newbie can learn about the Dragon is to ride their own ride, and to let faster bikes pass when possible. And of course to stay in their own lane!

[TitanicVol]

Thanks, LBF!